Sometime before the end of 2008 the XBOX 360 Dashboard is set for a major overhaul.

If you want a guide to the old dashboard there’s one here.

But the all-new box 360 dashboard looks to be in a different league and is the place to start if you want to access all the major features that the Xbox 360 has to offer.

All the content can be found at the ‘default’ channel My Xbox 360 which will appear as a smoother, more user friendly ‘iTunes’ inspired flow display.

All your regular content can be accessed from the new ‘My Xbox 360’ channel including:

Games Library
Music Library
Video Library
Photo Library

You can also adjust the system settings from this location too.

GAMER CARD

A major difference of the all new XBOX 360 Dashboard is that you now have the ability to create your own avatar for your gamer card, YES it’s clearly been lifted from the very popular Mii created by Nintendo, but ultimately it’s a great addition to the Xbox 360 and provides a welcome extension to the familiar ‘gamer tag’ providing an advanced user identity on the Xbox LIVE service.

GAMES

This is the channel from which you can launch into the games available on your hard drive, games available in marketplace plus there is talk of a fresh set of games that will be programmed up on a regular basis.

COMMUNITY CHANNEL

This channel replaces the Friends page and allows you to see which of your friends are on line (as represented by the all new 3d avatar), it allows you to get involved in a wide range of activities plus a new feature is allows you to see what activities your friends are involved in and join in the fun, it could be that they are sharing photographs or (as party leader) you can hop over to the games channel, select a game and allow all your friends to play. This channel allows you to be creative and share the Xbox 360 experience with your friends and looks to be a major development.

PRIMETIME CHANNEL

This is a channel which allows hundreds of gamers to appear in their own game shows, the big news here is that the channel has been made in conjunction with Endemol (1 versus 100, Deal or no deal, Big Brother etc) Play along with the entire Xbox LIVE community, the launch title will be 1 VS 100 an XBOX 360 exclusive which promises the opportunity to win ‘real’ prizes.

VIDEO CHANNEL

Due to a partnership with ‘Netflix’ if you have Gold membership to Xbox LIVE community you will have instant access to over 10,000 movies available to instantly watch via your console.

THE XBOX GUIDE

Easily navigate the dashboard and content using this all new user friendly Xbox guide.